diversity breakfast | Program details

The Office of Student Diversity Programs at Youngstown State University had its seventh annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Breakfast on Thursday in the Chestnut Room at Kilcawley Center. William Blake is the director. The program featured presentation of awards and entertainment by the Youngstown Connection from Youngstown city schools directed by Dr. Carol Baird, the YSU Gospel Choir and solo of “The Impossible Dream” by Jan’e Oliver, YSU student.

Diversity awards, undergraduate achievement: Anita Gomez and Joseph T. Parker, nontraditional students; and TaQuaesa Toney, junior pre-med major Youngstown Early College (YEC) class of 2008.

Diversity awards, graduate achievement: Oludare Banwo, second-year master of business administration student, and Seoun Som, music major.

Mentor recognition: Marc Ellis, YEC academic coordinator; Dr. Helene J. Sinnreith, director of Judiac and Holocaust Studies/History Department; Frank Townsley, community volunteer as counselor for addicted youth/Sandusky and Lorain counties; and Brian Wells, adviser to YSUnity and Safe Zone trainer.

Distinguished service award: Rosa Vega, student advocate, financial aid and scholarships.

Student diversity award: Michael Scott Patton, creativity and initiative in diversity programming, who also participated in the program.

Community service: Marian Wilson, facilitator of the annual Heritage stamp presentation, U.S. Postal Service, who also presented the stamp.

Program participants: Yulanda McCarty-Harris, Equal Opportunity and Diversity director; Dr. Alison Harmon, Diversity Awards committee chairperson; and Mason Shattuck and Brandon Thomas, YSU students.